02-October-2012
Ronnie Scott's 
London, England

London Evening Standard
Curmudgeonly Van Morrison brings moments of 'raw intensity' to audience of legendary Ronnie Scott's

“Welcome to the grumpiest gig in town,” said Van Morrison, midway through last night’s show at Ronnie Scott’s.

The singer’s status as something of a curmudgeon is the stuff of legend but he has reason again to smile of late. Born to Sing: No Plan B — his first album of original material since 2008’s Keep It Simple — has met with near-universal praise.

The record sees the Northern Irishman rail against everything from economic folly to “phoney pseudo-jazz”. It’s the most irritated he’s sounded in years — and also the most alive.

Backed by a sensational seven-piece band, Morrison began last night’s show with a jazzed-up take on Brown Eyed Girl. “We like to get that one out of the way early,” he said, only half-jokingly, to chuckles from the well-heeled crowd.

There were a number of solos on the night — from saxophone to trombone to guitar — but Morrison’s voice was the highlight. Whether crooning his way through Only A Dream or filling Born To Sing with some inspired skatting, at 67 he remains one of the world’s most distinctive vocalists.

While this was essentially supper-club jazz, performed to a seated audience, there were moments of raw intensity. Goldfish Bowl saw Morrison attack celebrity culture and its attendant “psychic vampires”; Burning Ground built to a transcendent crescendo.

“Got no plan B, no safety net,” sang Morrison over the rush of drums and brass.

On this kind of form, he needs neither.
-Rick Pearson

Setlist (Early show)
Brown Eyed Girl
Only A Dream
When the Leaves Come Falling Down
Open the Door (To Your Heart)
Mystic of the East
Close Enough for Jazz
Gold Fish Bowl
Days Like This
Who Can I Turn To
Born to Sing
Enlightenment
All in the Game/Burning Ground/No Plan B
Help Me
Moondance

Setlist (Late Show)
Brown Eyed Girl
Only A Dream
Yo
Open the Door (To Your Heart)
Mystic of the East
Close Enough for Jazz
Who Can I Turn To
St James Infirmary
Enlightenment
Poor Boy
Early In The Morning/Rock Me Baby
Put Your Hand In My Pocket
Baby please don't go
Here Comes The Night
Jackie Wilson Said
Help Me
Moondance